Socialising puppies, I know it is important, so how do I make sure it is done effectively?

[SheSellsSeashellsByTheSeashore]

I have just got a Stafford so it is very very important that she is well socialised and knows how to behave around other dogs, as I believe as an older dog she could do a lot of damage to anothr dog if she so chooses.

She is already enrolled in puppy classes to start after her jabs and has already met my parents two dogs, who are up to date with their jabs and in perfect health.

She is about 6 inches high and tried to attack my parents Akita this is an Akita so as you can see to say he could eat my pup whole, is an uderstatement.

She is definately a dominant dog with the fearless tendancies of a Staffordshire.

Trouble is I want to walk her on the school run through the park, but THOUSANDS!!! of other dogs walk through the park at that time of day so I need to be sure that she will be safe around other dogs.

I plan to start walkig her as soon as her jabs are done, so she will be used to it from an early age, she will continue to socialise with my parents dogs and will start puppy classes asap. Is this enough? Anymore tips?

many vets have puppy parties at the surgeries
You need to get a behavioural book specifically for staffies as reducing their dominant behaviour is essential for them to be successful family pets

Could you recommend any Piffle or should I ask the trainer? I'll ask my vet about puppy parties, they are a very good surgery so it's possible they will do something similar.

Go to dog training classes - if the kids are big enough they love 'em too.

DD1 is five she is coming with me, she fancies signing up for agility classes or as she said 'doggy dancing classes'

But I said she needs to do puppy classes and obedience training first.

Top top marks for taking the right attitude. The most important thing with a dog with a tendancy towards dominance (whether in the breed or due to being top dog in the litter) is that it must know that YOU are the boss form the beginning. It is the hardest thing to do with an adorable cuddly puppy, being very disciplined, and at times it may seem you need to be a bit cold. But dogs have different sepectations about respect and affection to humans, so don't attribute human qualities to her or you've lost the battle! No sitting on your lap on the sofa! To her that will be like her laying on top of you as a show of dominace which is what they do to their more submissive litter mates. Do not let her lay on your daughter or let your daughter lay on the floor with her. Eventually this may be possible but it is essential that her boundaries are set early.

Regular socialisation from an early age is essential. Remember that some older or nervous dogs are not tolerant of boisterous puppies. Chat to owners you meet and ask if they mind, explain she's little and needs to learn. It's obvious with a tiny pup but when they get to 7-8 months old, look full grown but still have puppy issues it's worth still telling people. They will be more tolerant if they think you are doing your best and being responsible. If you have some bad experiences at first do not let it dissuade you from socialising her. Like falling off a bike you must get back on straight away.

Be prepared for some people to have negative pre-conceived ideas about your choice of breed. I'm not going to get into a pro v anti staffie discussion, but as they've been adopted as the latest status symbol for the hard of thinking, those feelings are out there whether you like it or not. Don't get defensive, just set out to prove people wrong and have the gentlest, most reliable, best behaved dog you can have. It's really hard work - Good luck!

That would be expectation, not sepectations

Glad to see that you have a puppy

I can't offer much advice about dominant dogs, as our Maltese is the opposite, always lying on her back to have her tummy tickled.

We pretty much took her everywhere in the first 12 - 14 weeks, and she is great in any situation (except coming back to me when off leash, but we are working on that)

Have fun with her. What is her name?

Thanks TiggyR I didn't know that about her sitting on your lap

I already had an idea about negative comments re her breed but I did a lot of research and believe that this breed is most suited to our family. I am prepared to deal with what people migt have to say and have no intentions of standing arguing in the park

Atm if she does anything I don't like i.e. jumping up at the children I am pushing her to the floor and holing her in a submissive position and saying no firmly. It seems to be working, she mainly stops what she is doing when she hears no, but she is still only a puppy so I am aware it will take time.

Her name is Gypsy though dd1 fought long and hard for Fairy Princess. We managed to convince her tha Gypsy's were pincesses

LOL, our puppy was a whisker away from being Sparkle, if our DD had got her wish.

Just a word of warning, My stafford went to puppy classes, puppy parties and a training class, he was walked in a large group of dogs twice a day, and we had friends with dogs to our house and visited their houses on a regular basis.

All was well and dandy until he was two (and he had been neutered as a youngster) and then he grew up and changed. He will tolerate other dogs as long as they do not approach him, and to be fair will allow them to approach, at this point he will freeze and growl, if the other dog doesn't heed this warning he will snap at them.

His breeder warned me that this is very common with a stafford, and I now know this to be true, (I am a member of a Stafford society) and I see it happen time and time again, with dogs often being given up as a result.

This is a dog that was bred to fight other dogs, and while some staffords sociaise very well, many will not and this is something you must accept and always be aware of.

I am not trying to put you off, far from it, but as a responsible owner you owe it to your dog not to allow it to injure others.

If you can find it I would strongly recomend you purchase this book, it's brilliant.

Thanks WTWW. I will keep that in mind and will definately look for that book.

I would never give her up unless I believed she was a danger to my children. My JR was a nervous dog so I walked her when the chances of bumping into other dogs was mimimal I am prepared to do that again if neccessary, but would prefer not to, so hopefully she will socialise well. She was not the most dominant of her litter, but niether was she the weakest.

My cat has already made sure she knows he is top dog . He tries to take her food but she daren't go near his.

Haven't read all of this so sorry if I repeat anyone.

At the moment other dogs will recognise her as a puppy and so, although they may give her a quick sharp put down if she oversteps the line, they normally won't retaliate properly. Therefore use her puppyhood to its max and get her out and about with as many dogs as possible.

If you want to be really thorough, Gwen Bailey's Perfect Puppy has a huge checklist of people/animals/situations your puppy should ideally encounter during her early weeks. If dogs meet these things for the first time later they may fear them, and fear aggression is just as dangerous as the standard type.

I'm not putting Staffies down - I think they are great dogs with the right owner, and it sounds like you are doing all the right things.

Puppy classes and obedience later are certainly to be recommended.

Best of luck x

Another vote for gwen baileys book. I also carried my dogs to many different places before they were covered by their vaccinations, just to get them well socialised. My older dog used to ride on the hood of dd's pushchair as a puppy, it got him used to traffic and seeing other dogs and people around even though he didn't go on the ground or sniff them. My younger dog went to markets, Christmas fairs, into some shops, anywhere he was allowed really. Could you take your puppy on the school run and carry him? Also are there any other fully vaccinated dogs that you know that he could socialise with? The puppy classes should help, followed by other training classes and my pup loved his vets puppy party and got some lovely freebies!

lol at dog on hood of pushchair, LittleB

The period from 8-14 weeks is the window of opportunity for socialisation - and you can do an awful lot even before she's finished her vaccination course.

Mixing with other dogs of all different shapes and sizes is important - try to think of family and friends whose pets are up to date with their vaccinations and arrange some meetings. Getting dogs used to children and adults of both genders, other animals, traffic, bicycles, being handled and "examined", loud noises and group situations will make her adult life much easier for you both.

I am going to disagree with those posters who have suggested the need to enforce submission and respect. Dogs do not have an innate desire to be top dog - they just want to feel secure and so respond well to positive reinforcement and confident leadership. If you make new experiences fun for your puppy, ignore unwanted behaviours and reward "good" behaviours with floods of praise and treats you won't go far wrong. All Staffies want to do is please their owners so if you can harness some of their energy and exuberance you'll have a brilliant, brilliant pet

I knew someone would be along to debunk my submission/domination theory soon enough! There are two or three very different schools of thought to rearing/training dogs - just as there are with babies. You are either a Gina Ford fan, or you are REALLY not, and it's the same with dogs. I've fretted over which is the right approach, got myself all confused, and the answer is, I don't know. All I can say is that you must choose the system that feels right for you, and as long as it's done with consistency and love all will be well. Still don't let her on your lap though. If only because once you start, you will never be able stop (without giving her confusing and inconsistent signals)and sometimes you just won't be in the mood. Especially when she's four times heavier.

Yes Bella, we did get some funny looks! He was fine like that for the first couple of weeks, then tried to jump off as he got bigger! Dd used to think it was great, she'd keep peeping around at him, she was 1.11, but it was a great way to get him used to traffic. My second pup spent several weeks tucked inside my coat with his head peeping out, luckily it was cold at the time and he was like a little hot water bottle, lovely. That caused a few looks though, and I did have to be a bit careful when people wanted to stroke him, srange men lunging at your cleavage can be a bit disconcerting!. The things we do for our pets!

at LittleB.

I'm an anti-pack theory person myself - I think it's largely been discredited in scientific circles, although it still sells books etc.

Maybe it's because I grew up with a Dobermann who was fed before us, sat on the sofa, slept in our beds and did all those things they supposedly shouldn't, yet who was the gentlest, kindest dog I have ever known. She even treated my hamster as a puppy.

I also think a great deal of harm can be done to dogs who are naturally submissive or subdominant if you instigate a rank reduction programme. My old girl would have a nervous breakdown, for one

That said, it is very important to be consistent, so if you don't want a full grown dog on your lap don't let the cute puppy do it either

Sorry, what was the question again?